CLEVELAND GARDEN CLUB SHOW

When I came to Ole Miss, never in a million years did I think that I would fall in love with a Delta boy who created beautiful flower arrangements for a living. But I did, and then came marriage, and then came Oxford Floral.  David does not like crowds, especially speaking in front of them, but the "elite" Garden Club of Cleveland called him back to his hometown to do a presentation for them. Being the good Stepford wife that I am (yeah, right), I threw on a dress, painted my face with too much makeup, and sat in the crowd with my legs crossed and a smile on my face.

 

The theme for Cleveland Garden Club this year is "The Year of the Mannequin".

The Garden Club had decorated for their meeting with this lovely lady and her purse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David in action.....

 

 

David walked the Garden Club ladies through the process of creating three arrangements....

 

A bridal bouquet..

 

 

 

A reception arrangement...

 

 

And a rehearsal dinner arrangement.

 

 

 

I enjoyed laughing, visiting, and oohing and ahhing with my mother-in-law.

 

 

 

I hope that all of these pretty flowers put you in the mood for Spring!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREEN WITH ENVY

In honor of St. Patrick's Day this week, I feel the need to post these green finds that I would have loved to have made mine when at market in Atlanta.

 

 

This would make the perfect bar in this pop of green!

 

 

The circle monogram on this tote bag is a precious, fresh touch of personalization.

 

 

What a neat, unique idea! The folks at the J. Douglas showroom covered all of the books on this shelf in green paper.

 

 

Sorry for the iphone photo, but these green and navy fabrics are a great combo.

 

I hope that all of you had a wonderful St. Patty's Day!

 

 

IN THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE......

Just to make you feel better, let me share with you my mishaps from the last week:

 

1- I drove through the Chick-fil-a drive through, placed my order, paid for my order, and drove off without my food. I didn't realize that I didn't have my food until I got to campus, so I drove back through the drive through and announced on the intercom that I was the crazy lady who drove off without her order.

 

2- After attending Bible study on Wednesday night like the good little Christian girl that I am, I was in a mad dash to get back to campus to take a midterm.  I went straight to a white Jeep Cherokee ( the car that I drove when I was 15), and could not understand why I could not get in the car. Trying to refrain from cursing in the church parking lot (after all, I had just been to church), I finally decided that was not my car.... that my VOVLO SUV was across the parking lot.

 

3- In a mad dash to get to my hotel room yesterday to drop off my laptop before I took on Scott's Antiques, I tried to get into room 823.... as I was saying negative things under my breath.  While I was en route to the front desk to retrieve a new key, I realized that my room number was indeed 828!! 

 

 

Don't worry Dad, at least I didn't drive to Pontotoc this week in attempt to get to Jackson. That would make a good story for another day.

 

 

 

WORKING ON THE WEEKEND....

Since I have so much spare time on my hands, I have filled my life with 3 jobs- teaching college kids, dancing in and out of Oxford Floral, and as  a teacher consultant for the University of Mississippi Writing Project. Being a TC allows me to do lots of different things... facilitate Young Writers Camps in the summer, visit schools across North Mississippi to lead their professional development,  and work with the Mississippi Department of Education to plan Common Core implementation.  Since many of y'all give me grief for not staying in one place for too long, I want all of you to know that I am WORKING in ATLANTA this weekend while David is in Oxford being the hired help for a wedding.

 

 

 

 

So, what am I doing? I am here for some very interesting training through the National Writing Project. I even have a fancy folder and a snazzy name tag on. The University of Mississippi Writing Project  is one of 12 Writing Projects Sites across the country that is participating in a grant to assist 42 high need, rural school districts with a College Ready Writers Program.

 

This research study will reach a grand total of 
 90 schools, 400 teachers, and 18,000 students across the nation.  The U.S Department of Education's Investing in Innovation (i3) program will be funding this  4 year research study, and yours truly will be the liaison and data collector between the schools involved in the North Mississippi and the U of M Writing Project. I know y'all must be thinking "Katie, a data collector?" especially if you knew what I made on the math section of the ACT. But not to worry, I am just the data collector and  the cheerleader for the research study, not actually doing the analyzing of the data. I can't wait to share with you the results of the research study in 4 years... that is if I haven't totally bored you yet and you are still reading the "News of the Narons".

 

Notes from the day were taken in this handy notebooks.

 

 

 

Do yourself a favor and check out the website for this great paper line....

 

http://www.erincondren.com

 

I heart her planners, notebooks, and notepads.... Totally worth the splurge!

 

 

 

But don't worry, all work and no play makes Katie a dull girl, so I am headed here after my training this afternoon.

 

 

DIVINE DINNER PARTY....

 

When I moved to Oxford 13 Ole Miss football seasons ago (yes, I count the years by football seasons), I never dreamed that I would have stayed in Oxford this long. But, I fell in love with the town, the University, and with David, so I now consider myself a local! Lots have happened in those 13 years.... undergrad and grad school, getting married, renovating a house, teaching, purchasing Oxford Floral, and now working for the University! All along I have wanted my mom here beside me!

 

 

 

Well, in August my wish was granted! Kathy moved here in August, and we have had so much fun together.  Last night, this lovely lady threw a dinner party in my mother's honor.

 

 

There is not a lady in Oxford that can set a table as pretty and unique at Bette Butler!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first course was shrimp bisque....

 

 

And then we moved on to the main course....  salad, stuffed chicken, and vegetable lasagna....

 

 

And we finished it out with mini apple pie tarts and homemade ice cream, compliments of the talented pastry chef, Mason Parks.

 

 

 

 

And then there was a lot of talking and visiting!

 

 

And more talking and visiting!

 

 

 

 

I am so thankful for the 13 ladies who came to welcome my mom to Oxford, and I am forever grateful for the generosity and kindness of Bette Butler, Billie Jean and Maggie Giffin, Mable Bell, and Mason Parks. It was a divine dinner party indeed!

 

 

 



HAPPY DAY TO LINDSAY!

 

 

This lovely lady celebrated a birthday yesterday!

 

 

 

Lindsay and I have been in each other's lives for a long time.... we were childhood playmates, grew up together in church, partners in crime in high school and college, maid/matrons of honor in each other's weddings, and now when we have news to share, we call each other first.

 

 

 

Even though we live many miles apart... she lives in the precious mountain town of Salida, Colorado.... we always  pick right back up.  We have managed to meet in New Orleans the last three Augusts to hang out with our other partners in crime, Vic, Quin, and Camille.

 

Lindsay is a talented artist, and I am so proud that she gets to do what she loves,,, paint!

Check out her unique paintings on facebook under Lindsay Sutton Stevens.

 

 

"True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance".

 

Cheers, Lindsay!

 

 

 



BABY SHOWER BEAUTY

I love seeing the beautiful flowers go out of the store and make their way to different events.  Yesterday, the floral designers were busy creating these lovelies to adorn tables at a baby shower in Oxford this morning.

 

 

Wire Baby Carriage with a mixture of white spray roses, white hydrangea, and greenery

 

 

 

 Mirrored box full of white and green flowers... roses, ranuculas, lilies and more...

 

 

 

 

 

The stork has arrived with white spray roses, orchids, and greenery.

 

 

 

Oxford Floral has the best floral designers in the great state of Mississippi. Of course, I am not biased or anything.....

 

Enjoy the weekend! Cheers!



LADIES WHO LUNCH...

For seven years, I had lunch in "The Valley" among 4th graders who had no table manners, could not open their own milk, who threw food across the table, and ate their Jello face down with no spoon.  One day I even thought that I was a superhero and jumped across a cafeteria table in heels and a dress, mind you, just to break up a fight.  Needless to say, I am glad to enter the adult world and occasionally go to lunch with my girlfriends and have adult conversation. Today I pretended to be a lady who lunches....

 

 

 

 

And we lunched for almost three hours at City Grocery!  I mean, where else can you go and sit among Sam Haskell and his production crew (more to come on that later...), Charlie Mars, and Ron Shapiro?  Elizabeth, Margaret Blake, Liz and I did some serious lip flapping,laughing, and people watching at the Grocery today, among stuffing our face with yummy food!

The new lunch menu...

 

 

Every lady who lunches needs to start with one of these...

 

 

And move on to the Persimmon Waldorf Salad with apple, persimmon, walnut, lemon, yogurt, dried back mission fig, and bib lettuce in it.

 

 

 

And for the entree, splurge and go with the famous Shrimp and Grits...

 

 

And then round it all out by splitting lots of chocolate goodness with your friends.

 

 

Happy Friday, folks! Just a reminder that it is sometimes nice to splurge and be a lady who lunches!